Ghana - Overview

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Ghana, a West African country, possesses tropical high forests and savannas. There are a total of 3,600 species of flora, representing the three major taxonomic groups. There is only one known gymnosperm, the West African cycad (Encephalartos barteri), which is indigenous to Ghana. Current records show that there could be as many as 221 species of amphibians and reptiles, 728 species of birds and 225 mammalian species... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

Currently, there are 16 legally constituted wildlife reserves covering about 5.3% of the total surface land area. These are categorized into: 1 strict nature reserve, 6 National Parks, 2 wildlife sanctuaries, 6 resource reserves and 1 Biosphere reserve. In addition, there are 6 wetlands, which have been declared as Ramsar sites... More »

Percentage of Forest Cover

The tropical forest in Ghana covers 10.2% of total land area. This represents 2.46 million hectares of forest cover and is mainly confined to the southern and middle sectors of the country. Most of the forests only exist in statutory forest reserves with very little patches of traditionally protected forest occurring as sacred groves outside the reserves and representing less than two percent of the total forest area... More »

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The long-term goal of the country’s strategy is to achieve the conservation and sustainable management of the country’s biological diversity. This must be achieved throughout the whole country and within all representative ecological zones. Several key issues that require action have been identified and separated into several categories... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

The Government of Ghana has succeeded in implementing several projects that aim at achieving the 2010 target, several of which include: development of the forest and wildlife policy; local participation on issues of sustainable use, benefit sharing and incentives; and promotion of species diversity (particularly marine turtles, shore birds, mangroves and some food crops)... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

Government of Ghana has decided that every ecological zone in the country should have a representative protected area established. Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas like, Atiwa, Bawjiase, Bobiri, and Kyabobo National Parks have been established (Atiwa and Bawjiase were designated under the Biodiversity High Forest Project)... More »

Initiatives in Access and Benefit Sharing

Currently Ghana does not have any initiatives, measures, or legislations on Access and Benefit Sharing. There are however some related laws and Legislations in the country which have some bearing on ABS.

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

Ghana has not established any legal system on indigenous knowledge. However the constitution recognizes and supports the existence of such knowledge and practices.

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Mr. Fredua Agyeman	CBD Primary NFP, SBSTTA NFP, ICNP ABS NFP (ONLY)
Mr. Eric Amaning Okoree	CHM NFP, Traditional Knowledge NFP
Prof. Alfred A. Oteng-Yeboah	SBSTTA NFP
Dr. Lawrence Aboagye Misa	ICNP ABS NFP (ONLY), GSPC NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Mr. Fredua Agyeman	Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP
Mr. Eric Amaning Okoree	BCH NFP